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About HL

Corporate responsibility

HL has a long track record in sustainable development. We accept and respect our responsibility to all of our stakeholders and follow clear policies and guidelines to ensure continued value creation.

Corporate Responsibility Policy and HL's commitments

Our operations are built upon the company’s values, vision and mission. We outline our approach to corporate responsibility in our Corporate Responsibility Policy, Code of Conduct and Code of Conduct for Suppliers (replacing the Purchasing Policy as of 2021).

HL has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact since 2010. The principles of the Global Compact on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption have been an integral part of our strategy, culture and day-to-day operations. During 2020, HL became signatories of the Science Based Targets initiative and we plan on setting our Science Based Targets during 2021.

In 2019, HL reviewed the seventeen United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and identified the ones on which we have the biggest impact throughout our business and sustainability efforts. Three development goals were selected as the most important ones to address:

HL's key priorities:

  • Helping customers to reduce waste

    HL provides sustainable solutions with a focus on end-of-life product treatment. We aim to expand the Sustainable Choice offer and apart from addressing matters such as food waste and consumer packaging, we offer products that are resource efficient and lasting.

  • Creating the best workplace

    HL continuously invests in inclusive and safe work environments for our employees - embracing diversity and equality. We create a workplace where people live the HL values, and where all employees adhere to the Code of Conduct.

  • Driving continuous improvement in operations

    HL's ambition is to reduce the carbon footprint of our operations and to increase the use of recycled and environmentally friendly materials. We are committed to decreasing raw material and water consumption, as well as improve the efficiency of transportation.

  • Ensuring responsibility throughout the supply chain

    HL has a comprehensive supplier risk assessment and requires all suppliers to sign and adhere to the Code of Conduct for Suppliers. It establishes the company's strong position against corruption, ensuring employees and stakeholders practice honesty, integrity and responsibility.

Targets 2021

  • Helping customers to reduce waste

    To increase sales of HL Sustainable Choice by 10 percent year on year, and develop a circular offer that can be extended across Europe.

  • Creating the best workplace

    HL’s annual employee engagement survey to show at least 80% of employees experience equal opportunities and at least 80% of them find their work engaging. Also, to secure no accidents leading to absence.

  • Driving continuous improvement in operations

    Define CO2 reduction plan and have targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative. Moreover, our aspiration is to increase the use of recycled material by 10 percent year on year.

  • Ensuring responsibility throughout the supply chain

    To have 90% of our important suppliers sign the Code of Conduct for Suppliers and to have all of them covered in the supplier risk assessment.

Full report

Corporate Responsibility Report 2020
Download

Read highlights of the report

Corporate Responsibility Report 2020
Fast facts

HL commits to setting Science Based Targets

 

“Tackling climate change is one of the biggest challenges globally, and it is important to HL to take responsibility and make our contribution to finding solutions. We are striving to be the leader in innovative and sustainable solutions in our industry and reducing the environmental impact of our operations is at the core of how we do business.”

                                                                         HL Group President and CEO  2016-2020, Nina Jönsson

Read more about HL taking the next step in reducing our environmental impact and supporting customers on their journey to more sustainable stores in the press release.

Environmental responsibility

We are recognising our responsibility to make a contribution to tackling climate change and are committed to use environmental resources with care. As we are striving to lead the development of innovative and sustainable solutions, reducing our usage of virgin plastic, energy and water in our production processes as well decreasing production waste are priorities for HL.

Social responsibility

We value and respect our trading partners in every corner of the globe and continually strive to promote the highest ethical standards. As the company expanded and began operating in Asia, Europe and other continents, our standards for conducting business were raised in order to adapt to each unique region.

Financial responsibility

We are committed to achieving sustainability, profitability and long-term growth by applying ethical business practices and trading responsibly. The majority of economic value generated by HL is distributed to company stakeholders, which include suppliers, employees, owners and lenders. The company complies to local taxation laws in each country we are operating in.

Code of conduct

Our Code of Conduct sets the standards and company’s position on working conditions, conflicts of interest, compliance, bribery and environmental issues. It guides us in how we treat the people in our company and our suppliers.

Employees
HL's Code of Conduct demonstrates our strong position against corruption, ensuring employees and stakeholders practice honesty, integrity and responsibility. With a no tolerance stance on bribery, extortion or corruption and strict adherence to regulatory requirements, the Code of Conduct clearly defines the fundamental principles that every company representative should follow.

Suppliers
HL believes in social and environmental responsibility and ethical conduct and expects its business partners to do the same. HL is being developed with long-term sustainability in mind, which also includes building sustainable relationships with our business partners. Furthermore, HL and its business partners have an obligation to all stakeholders to observe high standards of integrity and fair dealing.

Whistleblowing for Employees

Our employees and partners have an important role in raising concern if they suspect wrongdoing that is not in line with our ethical guidelines. We offer a third-party whistleblowing service that is managed by an external party, where suspicions can be reported anonymously and securely. WhistleB is completely distinct from the employer’s IT systems and web services and does not maintain IP addresses or other data that could trace a whistleblower. All reports are strongly encrypted and can only be decrypted by designated individuals.

HL is an equal opportunity employer and adheres to its own Corporate Responsibility Policy that defines how the company shall operate. The company offers a safe and developing workplace for employees by respecting employees’ rights to collective bargaining and encouraging participation in trade unions.

Strict adherence to the CR Policy is expected by company suppliers who are required to sign a purchasing policy containing requirements and information relating to human rights, labour and anti-corruption. HL Display’s representatives regularly visit suppliers to monitor compliance and environmental issues.

Report an incident via the whistleblower function
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Management systems

Responsible production means running factories in an efficient and environmentally responsible way. HL strives to continuously improve its environmental performance by complying with policies and standards, reducing the environmental impact of its production and working with ethical suppliers. The company's management systems and policies for quality, work and conduct ensure minimal waste and the highest standards of safety during production.

  • ISO Certification

    HL is compliant with the SS-EN ISO 9001 and SS-EN ISO 14001 environmental management standards, with 75 percent of production facilities being certified.

  • REACH

    When manufacturing and sourcing new materials, HL complies with REACH, the EU’s chemicals legislation. Suppliers must also guarantee compliance with all applicable environmental laws and sign a written undertaking regarding REACH.